Clothes hanger device



May 1, 1962 N. FURNO CLOTHES HANGER DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

NICHOLAS FURNO BY ATTORNEY May 1, 1962 N. FURNO 3,032,243

CLOTHES HANGER DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

NICHOLAS FURNO United States Patent 3,032,243 CLOTHES HANGER DEVICENicholas Furno, 721 Hallowell Drive, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Filed Nov.13, 1959, Ser. No. 852,783 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-92) This invention relatesgenerally to garment hangers. More particularly, the invention is agarment hanger device having characteristics designed to preserve theshape of a garment supported on the hanger.

Garment hangers as conventionally made have a disadvantage, in that therelatively narrow form of the outer ends of the arms thereof isinsuflicient to keep the sleeves of a coat, dress or other garment fromwrinkling or creasing. Thus, a crease line will generally extenddownwardly from the top of the sleeve and often will remain therein whenthe garment is being worn.

One object of the present invention is to provide a garment hangerattachment that will comprise fingers pro jecting forwardly from theouter end portions of the arms, in such a way as to support theshoulders of the garment in the same manner as when the garment is beingworn, thereby to eliminate creasing of the sleeves.

Another object is to provide a particular shape of the fingers whichcoacts with a forwardly converging relationship and a downwardlydiverging relationship thereof, to produce the desired results.

Another object, in at least one form of the invention, is to provide ameans of connecting the fingers to a hanger that will be such as toallow the invention to be used with conventional hangers withoutmodification or redesign of said existing hangers.

Another object, in at least one form of the invention, is to permitcomplete removal of the device whenever desired, so that the hanger canbe used without the same.

Another object is to provide an attachment as described that will becomparatively inexpensive.

Another object, in one form of the invention, is to permit adjustment ofthe shape of the finger to fit the particular width and cross-sectionalshape of the shoulder of the garment.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment hanger equipped withshape-preserving means according to the present invention.

FIG. 2. is a top plan view of the hanger and said means.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view showing one end ofthe hanger and illustrating one of the shape-preserving fingers.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view substantially on the same scale as FIG. 3,taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3, the finger being shown in fulland dotted lines in its applied and partially removed positionsrespectively.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on the same scale as FIG. 4, taken online 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 3 showing a modified construction wherein thefinger is integral with the associated arm of the finger.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 77 of FIG. 6 onsubstantially the same scale as FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, portions being broken away,showing still another modification, the dotted lines showing aspringable jaw in position to permit removal of the finger.

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FIG. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 8 showing yet another modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, generally designated at 10 is aconventional garment hanger of the socalled wishbone type. Such agarment hanger, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has downwardlydivergent supporting arms 12 of identical but opposite formation, eachof said supporting arms extending in downwardly diverging relation at avery wide obtuse angle to each other. Further, the arms 12 as shown inFIG. 2 curve in the direction of their lengths, from the mid-lengthpoint of the hanger toward their outer ends, at a forward direction.This curvature is conventional in garment hangers, of course, and isdesigned to support the garment in a natural, shape-retaining manner.The arms 12 abut against each other along a vertical line 14 midwaybetween the opposite extremities of the hanger forming a collarsupporting portion, and at the line of abutment of the arms there isprovided the stem 15 of the usual suspension hook 16.

A trousers bar 20 is supported below the arms 12, by a trousers barsupport rod 18 of wire material having upwardly projecting ends engagedin the distal end portions of the arms 12.

All this is completely conventional in a garment hanger, and does notper se comprise part of the present invention.

The invention comprises forwardly projecting, identical but oppositeshape-retaining fingers 22. These project forwardly from the arms 12adjacent the distal extremities of the arms. The fingers areparticularly formed and located to supportably underlie the shoulderportions of a suit coat or similar garment. By reason of thisarrangement, a support for the garment is so located as to prevent thesleeves from cracking or wrinkling. It has been found that the sleevestend to form a wrinkle, that is, they cr-ac approximately at the middleof the armhole, when a suit coat is suspended from a normal, straighthanger or a wishbone hanger not equipped with fingers 22 comprising thepresent invention. This is undesirable, of course, since the wrinkletends to remain in the garment after the garment is removed from thehanger and is put on. A device according to the present invention, thus,may find its main and most effective use, though not its only use, inmens coat shops or in retail stores, tailoring establishments, etc.

In any event, the fingers 22 project forwardly from the arms 12, andwhen viewed in top plan converge in a forward direction. In other words,the fingers extend along imaginary lines aa (FIG. 2) which lines areextended approximately radially of the are described by thelongitudinally curved arms 12.

Not only do the fingers converge in a forward direction, they alsoconverge in a downward direction as shown in FIG. 1.

The fingers 22 include forwardly tapering body portions 24, which may beof their widest, thickest formation at the location of the arms 12, saidbody portion being progressively reduced at least in thickness if not inwidth in a direction toward their distal ends 26, which ends areextended downwardly and slightly rearwardly so as not to catch upon thegarments.

In the form shown in FIGS. 1-5, the invention is designed to be anattachment to a completely conventional garment hanger 10. Saidattachment can be put on the hanger after the hanger has already been inuse Without the fingers. In other words, the attachment can be purchasedfor a great number of hangers that are already in use in a store or inthe home. It is not necessary to discard ones conventional garmenthangers. Instead, the

.portion 24 attachments are swiftly applied thereto. Further, nomodification or redesign of the garment hangers, in any way, isrequired.

To this end, at the rear, thicker ends of the body portions 24, saidbody portions are formed with transverse, upwardly opening, deep,approximately rectangular recesses 23 (see FIG. 4). The recesses 28 areadapted to snugly receive a conventional arm 12 of a garment hanger 10.Such arms generally have transversely convex top surfaces 29, and thetop surfaces of the fingers 22 merge smoothly into said surfaces 29 asclearly shown in FIG.

'4, again for the purpose of preserving the shape of the garment,eliminating wrinkles, and preventing the device from catching upon thefabric.

Any of various means can be employed to secure the device to itsassociated arm in a selected position taken longitudinally of the arm.In other words, the device can be adjusted longitudinally of the arm, aswell as completely removed therefrom. In the form shown in FIGS. l5 (seeFIG. 5) clamping or setscrews 30 are employed, the shanks of whichextend into laterally opening, angular recesses32 formed in one side ofthe body portion 24. Recesses 32 communicatewith threaded bores 34extending obliquely tothe length of the body portion and communicatingat their inner ends with their recesses 28 midway between opposite.sides '35 of the body portion. A

screw 30 having a knurled head-isthus threadable into the bore 34. Whenthe screwis loosened, thatis, backed out of the bore, the device can beremoved entirelyfrom the garment hanger, orreadjusted longitudinally'ofthe associated arm 12. .After-the-adjustment, the screw is turned homeagainst-the front surface of the associated arm 12, and in this way thedevice is fixedlyclamped to the arm in the selected, new position ofadjustment.

In the form shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device is integral with thegarment hanger 16 so that the fingers 22* would comprise part of thegarment hanger. The garment hanger in the illustrated example is formed.of plastic, although other materials might be used.

In this form, the garment hanger 10 would be identical in shape to thegarment hanger 10, and would include arms 12*. Fingers 22 would includebody portions 24 the curved shape of which duplicates that of thefingers 22.

In other words, the body portion 24*- has a downwardly rearwardlycurving distal .end portion 26 Further, the body portions of therespective fingers would converge both forwardly and downwardly the sameas in the first form of the invention.

vIn this form, thebody portion 24 is molded integrally with the arm 12as a projection upon the front surface of the arm12 (see FIG. 7).

No adjustment, of course, would .be possible, in this particular form'of the invention. .In FIGS. 8iand 9, there is shown another form. Again,

the finger 22 providedupon each arm 12, wouldbe ada justably, detachablyconnectable to a completely conventional arm 12 of a garmentihanger 10.The finger includes a bodyportion 24 the shape of which is identical tothat of the first form of the invention. In this form, the body portion24 has a transversely extending, down- :wardly opening recess 28, snuglyreceiving the arm 12.

The body portion 24 'might bemade of plastic in this form of theinvention, and as will be noted, the recess 28 is disposed close to theback surface of the body As a'result, there is provided a spring tongue36, having at its distal, lower end an inwardly projecting lip 38. A lipit) is formed upon the lower end of the opposed, stationary wall 42 ofthe recess'28 In this form of the invention, the spring tongue can beswung outwardly to its dotted line position of FIG. 8, in the mannershown, so as to permit the arm 12 to be moved out of the recess 28 Whenthe tongue is released, it'moves to the full line position shown in FIG.8. In this position of the parts, the lips engage the underside 44 of"the arm 12. There is a frictional engagementof the 22* to the garmenthanger.

thus completely. removable, and adjustable longitudinally of arm. 12.

is still moisture in the fabric.

4 tongue against the arm, so that the arm is clamped between the tongueand the wall 42. This holds the device in selected positions ofadjustment. Yet, the device is completely removable, as will be readilyseen.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is here shown another form of theinvention, generally designated 22. This form of the invention, like theforms of FIGS. 1 and 8, is attachable to a completelyconventionalgarment hanger 19.

This form of the invention includes a body portion 24 which issectionally constituted. The body portion includes an inner or proximalsection designated by the reference numeral 46. There is also a distalsection 48. The sections 46, 48, cooperate to define the body portion24, cooperating in producing a finger shaped like that of the remainingforms of the invention.

Proximal section 46 has a downwardly opening, transverse recess 23identical to recess 28 Therefore, section 46 has a spring tongue 46formed with lip 38 that is in confronting relation to lip 40 provided atthe lower end of wall 42.

The connection of the finger 22 to the garment hanger is thussubstantially identical to the connection of finger The device of FIG.10 is It frictionally engages the arm in eachv position to which it isadjusted.

This form of the invention, however, differs from all the precedingforms in that the distal end portion of the finger canbe.adjusted'relativeto theproximalendportion. Thus, section 48pivots'uponsection 46 about-a transverse axis. It is adapted to be fixedin selected posital end portion of the finger so that the finger canbeprojected in a shape to fit the particular garment. After theadjustment is made the nut is tightened so that the head of thescrew andthe nut tend to shift toward each other the ears or fork arms.54, whichare of slightly springable characteristics. The inner surfaces of thefork arms thus bind against the opposite sides of the tongue 50. The

contacting surfaces of the tongue and fork arms can be roughened,toothed, or-otherwise formed to insure that the tongue will be firmlygripped between the fork arms.

vIn all forms of the invention, it is the-common characteristic whereinthe device willsupport the shoulder portion of the garment immediatelyadjacent a sleeve. The device holds the shoulders and sleeve of thegarment in place exactly as if the suit'coat were being worn, orpositioned upon a dummy. This keeps the sleeves from cracking orwrinkling at a location about at the middle of the-armhole. Adeficiencynoted in connection with conventional hangers is thus eliminated.

The. device would be most effective in mens suit shops, or perhaps inthe stockrooms oflargestores. Still further, in tailor shops the devicehas effective use. It will be noted, in many instances, both in a tailorshop or in .a retail clothing store, pressing of the garments that havebeen purchased or have been cleaned is a continuing requirement. By use'of'the device, the garment may be hung upon a hanger equipped with thefingers while there The device maintains the garment against cracking inthe circumstances, at a time when such wrinkling or cracking of thesleeve is most likely to occur.

The device can'be made integral with the hanger and be used in the home,and at all times serves'to maintain the garment in a wrinkle-free mannerat the location of the shoulders and the tops of the sleeves.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent A garment hanger havingoppositely disposed arms sloping into a collar supporting portion, ahook attached to said collar supporting portion, adjustable sleevesupporting fingers, said fingers having elongated tapering body portionswith one end enlarged, said enlarged ends having upwardly openingtransverse recesses for effecting the connection of the fingers to thesloping arms, said recesses being of a cross-sectional shapesubstantially duplicating the cross-sectional shape of the sloping arms,said enlarged ends having recesses at the sides thereof adjacent theupwardly opening recesses and having threaded bores connecting the siderecesses and the upwardly opening recesses, the other end of the bodyportions having downwardly and rearwardly curved portions, said fingersbeing slidably adapted to ride upon said sloping arms, and clampingscrews extending through the bores into the recesses in the sides andengaging the sloping arms holding the fingers in moved adjusted positionalong the arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,470,456 Lemke Oct. 9, 1923 2,108,853 Ghazal Feb. 22, 1938 2,457,776Goldlust Dec. 28, 1948 2,525,142 Levinson Oct. 10, 1950 2,639,066 Kinneyet al. May 19, 1953 2,912,148 Lawnhurst Nov. 10, 1959

